Seattle International Film Festival - Anne Hockens for SIFFblog.com, 30 May 2006
contains spoilers
I saw this film at The Seattle International Film Festival last weekend where it was well received. I am a substance over style audience member, so, though glad I saw it in a theater,I didn't really like this film.I enjoyed the way the film looked, the cinematography and editing were superb as was the art design, but I had real problems with the story and the acting. The endless cheesecake shots didn't help either. I thought if Dita Parlo either opened her eyes really wide or look down in a softly feminine modest manner one more time I was going to scream. It was hard to take such an irritatingly gamine performance after seeing Lillian Gish the day before in The Scarlet Letter! I felt the two films were equal in terms of the physical aspect of film-making- cinematography etc. However, Seastrom's cinematography and settings served to highlight the inner and social conflicts of the characters. I found Duvivier's style a bit overbearing and obtrusive- at times it overwhelmed the story and, for me, didn't compensate for the lack of interesting characterization or a compelling narrative. For me, the uncle's snapping and going nuts was the highlight of the film, because I felt for him. I was, of course, rooting for and pleased by the shooting of the personnel
contains spoilers
I saw this film at The Seattle International Film Festival last weekend where it was well received. I am a substance over style audience member, so, though glad I saw it in a theater,I didn't really like this film.I enjoyed the way the film looked, the cinematography and editing were superb as was the art design, but I had real problems with the story and the acting. The endless cheesecake shots didn't help either. I thought if Dita Parlo either opened her eyes really wide or look down in a softly feminine modest manner one more time I was going to scream. It was hard to take such an irritatingly gamine performance after seeing Lillian Gish the day before in The Scarlet Letter! I felt the two films were equal in terms of the physical aspect of film-making- cinematography etc. However, Seastrom's cinematography and settings served to highlight the inner and social conflicts of the characters. I found Duvivier's style a bit overbearing and obtrusive- at times it overwhelmed the story and, for me, didn't compensate for the lack of interesting characterization or a compelling narrative. For me, the uncle's snapping and going nuts was the highlight of the film, because I felt for him. I was, of course, rooting for and pleased by the shooting of the personnel